“Kindness ripples outward”

A very special op shop’s support of neurological research 

As part of the Warkworth Anglican Parish, members of St Leonard’s church and many community volunteers operate an opportunity shop in Matakana. Each year, its dedicated team donates the money raised to community organisations.  

In 2025 alone, they raised $120K to give to good causes, with a portion being donated to the Neurological Foundation. Over the past 11 years, they’ve gifted nearly $30K to the Foundation – an incredible sum. How do they do it? With the kindness, love and laughter of 26 loyal volunteers. 

“We have a great community that donates a wide variety of clothing and homeware to our tiny shop,” says Op Shop Co-ordinator Ellie Greer.  

Ellie says many of the volunteers have family members who have been affected by challenging brain diseases like Parkinson's. “It’s devastating when you get a diagnosis like that,” she says.  “That’s why we’ve supported the Foundation for 16 years. Many of us have family members battling various neurological conditions, and we appreciate your research and support.” 

“Kindness ripples outward” – the story of the Matakana Op Shop 

The Matakana Op Shop has a long and generous history rooted in service and community spirit. The building itself was constructed in 1914 and first served as the Matakana Post Office — the heart of village communication in those early years. When the post office eventually closed, the hall stood empty for a time, until a group of determined church ladies saw its potential. As part of a parish initiative, they decided to transform the unused space into an op shop that would raise funds for the local community. 

Today, the shop thrives with the help of 26 dedicated volunteers — some working one shift a month, others turning up faithfully each week. Together, they embody the shop’s two guiding philosophies: community assistance and sustainability. Donations flow in from Matakana and beyond, filling the old post office with everything from books and clothing to furniture and treasures of the past. 

Each Tuesday morning, a cheerful team of ladies gathers to sort through new donations, restock the shelves, and prepare the shop for the week ahead. Items that cannot be sold aren’t wasted — instead, they’re passed along to a caring woman in Leigh, who redistributes them to communities in need. In this way, nothing goes to waste, and kindness continues its ripple outward. 

Every sale at the Matakana Op Shop tells a story: of generosity, reuse, and connection. What began as a humble church project has grown into a cornerstone of community life — a place where the spirit of giving, born in 1914, still thrives in every second-hand treasure and every helping hand.